Nearly 70 years after the post-World War II suburban explosion, some developers and civic innovators argue that urban centers can increase their livability by going beyond the lower limits of what’s functional.

Community

10:37 am

Mon July 22, 2013

Cities across the nation are trying to improve the health of their populations, many developers are embracing cycling infrastructure as a way encourage civic engagement, environmental goals, and economic prosperity.

During a recent placemaking conference sponsored by the University of Oklahoma’s Institute for Quality Communities, Cock described three types cyclists – those who are already out there, the 7-9 percent who would ride on urban streets if they had a bike lane, and another 60 percent who don’t even want a bike lane if they have to share the roadways with traffic or parked cars.

Speaking at the conference, Donovan Rypkema debunked several myths about preserving old buildings. He says studies show the older structures are not necessarily less energy efficient than newer construction.